Tigers too much for young Warriors
Tolman prepared for showdown with Patriots Tuesday
Tolman High mentor Walter “Bunky” Gonzalez was thrilled with his Tigers’ 51-6 blowout of Central Falls in a Division III clash on Friday night, but he didn’t anticipate just how easy it would be.
What he didn’t know happened to be the fact CF head coach Nick Lafreniere had suffered a massive exodus of talented seniors to graduation, though was well aware that two transfers had ended up on his own roster – including senior Tamara Negron and junior Thania Santana.
That duo mustered only two points between them in this one, though the latter offered six steals, but senior co-captain Julia AlAmir took the game by storm early on. The diminutive guard netted a game-high 18 points with four thefts to help the Tigers improve to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in Division III action.
Other key contributions came from senior center Victoria Percy (who notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards); sister and fellow forward Ashley Percy (eight rebounds, four points); senior Maya Barbosa (seven points); and sophomore Nariah Washington and senior Ama Diagne (four points each).
“I didn’t expect this (kind of game),” Gonzalez stated afterward.
“I figured with two transfers from CF, they’d be a little more amped up; they’d come out stronger. Then again, they’re also very young. I know Coach Nick is doing the best he can with what he has, and I know they’re going to keep improving.”
As for Tolman’s new stint in D-III, Gonzalez noted, “We’re still competing; we have a big one coming up on Monday against Davies, which is very good. We’re going to be facing teams that are the same caliber of Davies, and we know they’re going to push us. We just have to keep improving.”
The Warriors, on the other hand, fell to 0-3 in league play, which comes of no great surprise given the fact Lafreniere has a dozen on his squad, but seven are freshmen and four more sophomores. They nevertheless did see their fair share of positive moments.
Among them sophomore Fataumata Diallo and frosh Caroline Gil diving to the hardwood for loose balls, and 10th-grader Savanna Martinez battling for rebounds with ferocity.
The Tigers jumped out to a 29-4 halftime cushion, thanks in part to numerous CF turnovers, and they did the same over the final 16 minutes. Vicky Percy hit a bucket and Washington both of hers in the opening two minutes to give the visitors the 37-4 lead, and CF didn’t land their first of the second stanza until Martinez nailed a short jumper with 11:52 remaining in regulation.
At that point, Gonzalez already had replaced his usual starters with his JV squad, doing so – he said – because he’s “been there”; that is, where Lafreniere is now.
TOLMAN (51) – Julia Al-Amir 6 4-4 18, Victoria Percy 4 2-2 10, Ashley Percy 2 0-6 4, Ama Diagne 1 2-2 4, Thania Santana 0 0-4 0, Maya Barbosa 3 1-2 7, Tamara Negron 1 0-0 2, Minelle Pagan 0 0-0 0, Nariah Washington 2 0-0 4; totals 19 9-20 51.
CENTRAL FALLS (6) – Savanna Martinez 1 0-2 2, Ameliz Villegas 1 0-0 2, Fataumata Diallo 0 0-2 0, Daneisha Manzueta 1 0-0 2, Caroline Gil 0 0-0 0, Julianny Echeverria 0 0-0 0, Dakota Aguilar 0 0-0 0, Noelia Vazque 0 0-0 0, Sarena Gomes 0 0-0 0, Ty-aijah Banks 0 0-0 0, Luz Acosta 0 0-0 0, Fidelina Sequeira 0 0-0 0; totals 3 0-4 6. Three-point field goals: Al-Amir 4.
Halftime: Tolman, 29-4.
CUMBERLAND — West Warwick freshman wing Tori Bird scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to lead the Wizards to a 65-52 Division II victory over Cumberland Friday night at the Wellness Center.
“They just played really well in the second half and beat us up and down the court,” Cumberland coach George Coderre said. “It seemed like a blur. We started slow and managed to get our way back into the game at halftime. They deserve credit for winning the game.”
Cumberland (1-2 Division II) trailed 17-11 in the first half, but Ca-
LINCOLN –— Visiting Pilgrim overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat the Lincoln girls basketball team, 42-32, in a Division II contest Friday night at the Lions’ Den.
Lincoln (1-2 Division III( built a 24-17 lead at halftime thanks to the play of senior wing Dalia Suslovich, who scored a game-high 16 points thanks to a pair of 3-pointers. Madison Flaxington added five points and Lilye Lasko chipped in with four. p
Pilgrim (4-0 Division III) bounced back from a defeat to Coventry last week after Nadine Ogni and Kailey Giarusso each produced a team-high 10 points. Hannah French added sev-N en points.